Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Sea Cliff Board of Trustees discussed village projects and legislation at its public conference meeting on Monday night.
Proposals for renovations to the village green were under consideration, and issues with storm drains were raised. Legislation on battery energy storage systems for residential use returned to the discussion as well.
Here are three things to know from Monday’s meeting.
1. Village green update proposals denied
The Board of Trustees received messages from Environmental Conservation Commission Chair Fred Black and Dina Epstein, ECC member and former trustee, with information about native planting. Mayor Elena Villafane proposed on Monday that, considering the information Black and Epstein provided, the board deny both proposals for village green renovations that were submitted to the village.
Trustees agreed, and a motion was made to decline both bids. Villafane also suggested the board revise the request for proposal that was put out so it reflects “the village objective of native plantings and sustainability.” Trustees discussed prioritizing native plantings and trees rather than bushes or shrubs.
In addition to native plantings and sustainability, Villafane said the revised RFP should incorporate language about water recapture and rain gardens, shallow depressions to capture, filter and soak up stormwater runoff.
2. Storm drain on Littleworth Lane to be serviced
Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy said that the storm drain on Littleworth Lane needs professional management. This will include debris and sand removal, cleaning screens and servicing the irrigation system.
He added that under current conditions, there is too much sand that can get into Scudders Pond, and that a backup could cause damage to the adjacent property.
Villafane said she authorized Kennedy to move forward with the maintenance as an emergency, and the village has the paperwork from the contractor and is moving forward.
3. BESS legislation draft to be finalized
Trustees briefly went over legislation on residential battery energy storage systems. No changes were made on Monday, and trustees agreed that Village Attorney Brian Stolar could move forward with the draft of the law so a public hearing could be held in the fall.
Over the months that the board has worked on the legislation, trustees decided that residents should be allowed to own systems that store up to 41 kilowatt-hours, the unit of energy measuring the amount of electricity a device uses during the time it is running. If a resident wants to own a larger system, they will have to get approval from the Planning Board. Residents would not be allowed to own systems larger than 80 kilowatt-hours.
The law would allow units to be installed a minimum of 30 feet from a neighbor’s house. Outdoor installation would be allowed. Indoor installation would require the owner to house the unit in an enclosure properly ventilated and designed to prevent fire from spreading.
